Genetically modified plants – a building block of modern agriculture? New methods allow precise breeding, which could also occur naturally. Researchers are pushing for deregulation.
On Wednesday, the EU Commission presented new plans for dealing with genetic engineering in agriculture. As can be seen from the drafts that have become known, the Brussels authorities are likely to propose significantly relaxing the existing rules. This could make it easier to breed new plants for food and feed using methods such as the Crispr/Cas gene scissors. Interventions with this method are precise, but in case of doubt, the results achieved can also be achieved using conventional methods.
The goal of deregulation is, among other things, that new plants that are more resistant to water shortages or pests are used more quickly. Scientists have been pushing for a relaxation of the strict EU rules for so-called green genetic engineering for some time.
So far, different positions on the project have been heard from representatives of the traffic light parties. “Anyone who rejects this technology is acting negligently and irresponsibly,” said Carina Konrad, deputy leader of the FDP parliamentary group, the German Press Agency. The environment and agriculture ministries should finally recognize this.
The Ministry of Agriculture, led by the Green Cem Özdemir, recently said that genetically modified plants should undergo a risk assessment, be labeled and be traceable. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, headed by Steffi Lemke (Greens), made skeptical statements about relaxing genetic engineering rules.
Critics fear more control by large corporations
There is also criticism of genetic engineering in the ranks of the SPD: “Its social benefit is often claimed in theory, but in practice genetic engineering aims at patents and profits,” said Development Minister Svenja Schulze of the Funke media group.
Critics, such as non-governmental organizations, fear that large corporations could gain even more control over food production. In addition, consumer advocates, for example, see the danger that people will no longer be able to consciously decide against food that has been modified by new genetic engineering methods. Neither the EU Commission nor researchers see more health risks from deregulation than planned. EU states and the European Parliament still have to discuss the proposals and work out a compromise.
So far, researchers have clearly welcomed the project: Leading scientific organizations in Germany and Europe evaluated the technology in a similar way to the Commission, emphasized Nicolaus von Wirén from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research. Plants modified in this way do not pose an increased risk to humans and nature.
Franz-Martin Rausch, general manager of the German Food Trade Association (BVLH), told the editorial network Germany (RND) that comprehensive consumer information is a long-standing cornerstone of EU food law and consumers should be given a choice.
Source: Stern
